Exhaust box



Novjzz, 1927.

B. S. GALLAGHER EXHAUST BOX Filed Nov. 20, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIEJL- INVENTOR fiernard j fia/Mg/zexr BY (9 AAT0RNEY Patented Nov. 22, .1927.

"PATENT OFFICE.

BERNARD S. GALLAGHER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

EXHAUST Box.

Application filed November 20, 1925.

My invention relates to a heating apparatus known in the canning art as an exhaust box and arranged for expanding the contents of a can so that the air may be expelled from the can to prepare the can.

for scaling.

in general terms, apparatus to which the present invention particularly relates comprises a heating chamber through which cans in upright position are conveyed on a series of rotating discs and guided by suitable means in a zig-zag path while being heated by having jets of steam directed against them. 'In such apparatus increased efficiency of operation mav be secured by causing the rotation or oscillation of the cans about their axes as they progress through the apparatus. But it has been found that in the apparatus of this character heretofore provided in which smoothness and constancy of the forward thrust is provided by the discs, a relatively small amount of rotation or oscillation of the cans is afforded. On the other hand, it has been found that in apparatus having the arrangement of the discs such that the rotation or oscillation of the cans is effected during the greater part of their travel, a lack of constancy of the propelling thrust exists In accordance with the foregoing, it is an object of my invention to provide a device of the character described having an arrangement of discs which allowsrboth constancy of propelling ous oscillation of the cans as they progress.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described in which the modifications necessary to adapt it for handling one size of can in place of another, are of a rather minor nature and do not involve the stean; heating elements or the can supporting or propelling means.

A further object is to provide an appa ratus of the character described in which the cans are caused to travel inintimate association with the steam pipes without at the same time coming in direct contact therewith.

A still further object is to'provide the apparatus of the class describedwith an improved disc mounting and driving structure.

Furthermore, it is an object of my invention to provide an apparatus which may be readily inspected and kept clean Without requiring the removal or detachment of parts.

The invention possesses other objects and thrust and a substantially continu Serial No. 70,232. 7

features of advantages, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the showing made by the said drawings and description, as I may adopt variations of the preferred form within the scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is aplan view of the apparatus of my invention, it being noted that the apparatus is shown without its cover, and that portions of the apparatus "have been removed to reduce the size of the figure.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line 2'2 of Figure 1. i

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the apparatus taken at right angles to Figure 2, the plane of the section being indicated by the line 3-8 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of one of the discs and the mounting and supporting structure therefor.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary'detail, partly in section, disclosing an edge portion of the bottom of the chamber and of'the connections therefor.

The apparatus of my invention, as illustrated in the drawings, comprises a retangu-v lar heating chamber 6 mounted upon a suitable frame 7 and provided with sides 8, bottom sections 9, and covers 12. Preferably forming part of the frame 7, and connected together at their extremities, are hori-' zontally disposed angle-iron members 13 here shown incorporated with each of the sides 8 of the chamber Extending horizontally across the chamher in spaced relation from the top and bottom thereof, is a grilling composed of equally spaced parallel beams 16 supported by a pair of opposing angle-iron members 13. The grilling is arranged, in the present embodiment of the invention, to directly supportthe can-conveying, can guiding, and the steam or other can-heating means, and, as clearly shown in Figure 3, the can guiding and the can-heating means are preferably attached to such grilling by means independent of that which is arranged for attaching the can conveying means thereto; The can-conveying means, it will be under,

stood, comprises the revolving discs 17, and each of the latter, as shown in Figures 3 and 4;, are mounted in bearing brackets 18 which are releasably secured to the grill beams 16 by clamps 19, one part of which is formed integral with, while the other is formed separate of the brackets. Each of the brackets include a bore 21 in which a spindle 22 is mounted for rotation. The latter is provided at its lower extremity with a longitudinally adjustable thrust member $23 which is arranged to bear upon a hall 24L seated in a screw plug 26 at the lower end of the bore. The bore is arrzmged to contain a supply of lubricant, and for such purpose, a. manifold 27 which conununicates with an oil. reservoir 28 is preferably connecterfl to each of the brackets.

Arranged at the upper extremity of each of the spindles and keyed thereto are the discs 17 which, as hereinbefore stated comprise the means for conveying the cans through the apparatus. As shown in Fig ure 4, each of the discs is provided with a skirt 31 which extends outwardly and downwardly over the upper extremity ofthe bracket bore, so as to prevent any liquid, such as condensed steam, from finding its way into the spindle bearing. Additional effectiveness of the seal thus provided may be had by interposing a felt washer 32 between the upper face of the bracket and the opposing face of the disc. Rotation of the discs is arranged to be effected by transmitting motion of one to the other, and as here shown, the periphery of each disc proper is accordingly formed with teeth which are adapted to mesh with the teeth of several of the adjacent discs.

The arrangement of the discs of the apparatus, as shown in Figure 1, resembles to some extent arrangements previousiy in use, but differs-from the latter in a number of important respects, as will be readily evident to those skilled in the art. In accordance with the general. practice in such apparatus, the discs are arranged to cause the cans to take a Zig-zag path from one side of the chamber to the other while progressing from the can entrance to the exit thereoflin order that the cans may receive adequate exposure to a source of heat. As here shown, the arrangement provided comprises rows A of spaced discs, which alternate with similar rows B in which the discs are positioned staggeredly of the discs of the first rows and are geared thereto, it being noted that in consequence of such engagement between gears of adjacent rows, the gears of a row are not in mesh with each other. In order to secure progression of the cans in substantially one general direction each row contains an even number of discs,

' and in the present embodiment of the invention but two discs are shown provided in eaasee each row. The rows,,for the purpose of convenience in referring to the drawings, will be considered as extending crosswise of the longer sides of the chamber, or in other words," transversely of the direction of. general progress of the cans, it being noted that as a matter of fact, that the arrangement of the discs, as, clearly here shown, is such that they actually define rows extending longitudinally ofthe chamber, as well as transversely thereof.

Operatively associated with the discs in, causing the desired passing of the cans through the chamber, is a can guiding means, here shown in the form of spaced bands 3+1 and 86 cooperating to define over the discs a sinuous course for the cans from the point of entrance of the cans into the chamber to the point of exit. As illustrated in Figure l, the bands 34 and 36 are similarly formed and each comprises a series of parallel relatively narrow loops or arms 87 connected at their base by segments 38. The bands 34 are oppositely disposed with re spect to bands 36, and thejloops of one band are symmetrically disposed between the loops of the other band while the ends of the loops of one band are spaced from the seg ments of the other a distance corresponding to that between adjacent loops. It will thus be noted that the bands form a path whose width remains constant throughout its] length. The arms, it will now be noted, are so positioned with respect to the discs, that each of the former will overlie the line of disc centers of one row and the edgepon tions of the discs of each of the adjoining rows. In this manner the cansin their course of travel through the chamber will, for the most part, move in astraight line successively over the discs of adjoining rows, but since the contiguous or intermeshing segments of the adjoining discs move in substantially the same direction and diagonally forward in the can path, the cans may readily move from one disc to the next and the required smoothness and continuity of movement of the cans through the apparatus is thus assured. v V

eating of the contents of the can during the passage of the cans through the chamber is arranged to be effected by the direct application of steam to the sides of the cans while the latter is moving'over the discs. As here shown, steam is arranged to be brought in close proximity to the moving cans by means of pipes 89 which are located over the discs in juxtaposition with the arms 37 and are provided vwith apertures 41 through which jets of steam are arranged to be discharged from the pipes and directedagainst the cansi The pipes, it will be noted, are interposed between the band portions which form the arms 37. In this way the cans while enabled to pass in close proximity to the pipes, are

prevented from contacting therewith to. interfere with the proper discharge of steam through the pipe openings. The forward ends of the pipes are heldin blocks 42 which are supported by means of brackets r3 clamped to the beams 16. The other ends of the pipes are connected to headers 44 and 4L6 which extend along opposite sides of the chamber and are supported on the beams 16 by means of brackets at, steam being supplied to such headers'through suit able steam-pipe connections 48, i

In order that the apparatus may be readily changed to accommodate cans of different sizes at different times, the can guiding means are so mounted that they 'may be readily removed and another set substituted therefor without requiring the removal of the steam distributing system or any part thereof. As here shown, the foregoing is accomplished by removably mounting the bands 3 and 36 upon the steam headers and steam pipe supports. Secured to the segment portions f said bands at their outer sides-are yokes 49' which are arranged to rest upon and be removably attached to the headers, while the arm portions of the bands are arranged to be removably secured to the blocks 42. In this manner, the bands may me readily removed or replaced.

It will now be understood that the cans,

by reason of the motions of the discs will, for the most part of their travel, be thrust against and friction'ally engaged with one side of the guideway or the other, to thus cause their practically continuous oscillation about their own axes. In this manner, a uniform application of the heat to all sides of each can will be assured. It will also be noted that since the tendency to oscillate the cans in one direction increases from and .decreases to a minimum before any tendency to oscillate in the opposite direction is encountered, the general forward movement of the cans, notwithstanding such tendency toward continual oscillation, will be effected with maximum smoothness.

In order to facilitate the passage of cans from one disc to another, Ipreferably dish the upper face of each of the discs, as clearly shown in Figure 4. In this way, as a can starts moving from one disc to the next, it will do so while in a tilted position, and the forward bottom edge of the can will thus be elevated above the edge of the disc over which the can is commencing to move. Owing to the fact that by reason of teeth 33, portions of the adjoining discs proper will actually intermesh, I preferably bevel such portions at the upper side thereof, thereby eliminating any impediment in the path of the cans. Itwill now be evident that the cans may readily move from disc to disc with the utmost ease.

The design of the present apparatus, is,

I the upper part of chamber.-

forthe' ready cleaning and inspection thereof. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the bottom and lower portions of the chamber are formed as one,-and are arranged for ment to the upper side portion ofthe chamber by means of series of clamps 51. Each of the latter comprises a hook 52 and cooperating linlr53, .thefirst of which is rigidly fixed to the bottom part of the chamber while the latter is connected to a lever 54; fulcrumed on a pivot 56 which is fixed to lVhen the lever is in the elevated position shown in Figure 5, the connecting point of the link therewith will lie beyond the fulcrum point of the lever and the angle iron 57 which is associated with the bottom part of the chamber will be held against the angle iron 13 which is associated with the. top part of the chamber; in this manner the two parts of the chamber will be held to one another. However, when it is desired to separate said parts the lever isswung outwardly and downthe connectlng point of the wardly whereby link and leverlwill be disposed below the lever fulcrum; with the clamps thus' positioned'the two parts of the chamber will be held apart at all sides ofthe chamber and inspection or cleaning of the entire-chamber will be much facilitated. While the clamps are thus arranged to support the lower part of the chamber in either position, the" lower part may be entirely removed from the up per part by simply detaching the hooks from the links.

Power for driving the discs may be trans mitted thereto in any suitable manner. As here shown, prise a shaft 56 pulley 57 is arranged to be transmitted through means of a suitably controlled clutch 58. Arranged in parallel relation to the shaft and gears 59 and 61 is a shaft 62 on which are preferably fixed one or more bevel gears 63. The latter are arranged to mesh with bevel gears 64 which are fixed to vertical shafts 66, such shafts being substituted for two of the spindles 22 and are fixed to the discs in the same manner as are the spindles. It will now be clear that by reason of the interconnection between the discs, rotation of one or more of the shafts 66 will cause a corresponding rotation of all of the discs.

If desired, the guide bands may be extended beyond the chamber at the can entrance and exits openings, and additional discs 67 and 68 provided thereat in order to facilitate the can feeding and discharging operations.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a heating chamber, of can conveying means therein attachthe driving connections com-' to which motion from a as previously I stated, particularly adapted driven thereby through the Cal member from which jets of steam are comprising a pluralityiof rows of revoluble carrier discs, driving-connections between the discs of one row and the discs of the others, can guiding members comprising spaced rails extending across said chamber,

each rail defining a different part of a course of travel for the cans,

and a steam pipe interposed between said rails of each guide arthe the ranged to be discharged directly upon sides of the cans as they move along associated guide member.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the con'ibination with a heating chamber of can conveying means therein comprising revoluble carrier discs over which the cans are arranged to course through the chamber, steam distributing means including pipes extendingacross the chamber and paralleling said can course,

to support said bottom spaced from said upper portion completely around the chamber or to hold said bottom against said portion.

4.. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a heating chamber, of a can conveyor comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed revolnbie discs adapted to carry the cans on their '.upper faces and from one to the other of which said cans are arranged to pass, the I said faces being concave whereby the cans will move from one disc to another while in a tilted position.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, 'a heating chamber, means therein comprising a plurality of rows of revoluble carrier discs and means for rotating means comprising a header pipe extending the discs, steam distributing can conveying longitudinally of said chamber and perforated branch pipes extending fronr the header transversely of the chamber, and can guiding means comprising'a rail defininga coursefor the cans on the discs, said guide rail being rem'ovably supported upon said header pipe.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at New York city, county of New York, State of New York, this 19 day of 7 November 1925.

BERNARD s. GALLAGHER. 

